MTA members step up for tornado recovery efforts

Eric Warren considers himself lucky that the June 1 western Massachusetts tornadoes damaged only his car, and not his home or workplace. So the Springfield Technical Community College staff member did what comes naturally to a librarian. He created an online Tornado Relief Guide that is providing much needed news and information for students, staff and the general public.

Warren’s guide can be found at http://libguides.stcc.edu/tornadorelief and includes links to local relief agencies, consumer protection advice and fundraising events. There is also a section devoted to Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and other social media projects set up for storm recovery.

Warren is one of scores of MTA members who are helping in their communities by grabbing saws and rakes, or visiting students at shelters or raising funds to aid those who lost their homes and belongings in the storms. Many members were themselves storm victims.

“As we became aware of the destruction caused by the tornadoes, we were not at all surprised to hear that MTA members were taking the lead in their communities,” said MTA President Paul Toner. “This is such a large part of what we as educators and public employees do everyday – reaching out to those who need help and hope and working to make our communities stronger, even when disaster strikes.”

The Board of Directors of the MTA’s charity, The Massachusetts Child, is taking steps to provide relief to the students and MTA members in the communities hit by the tornadoes. The Mass Child board voted on June 15 to make additional funds available to MTA locals in school districts where there was significant damage as a result of the June 1 storms, according to President Christine Mulroney

“Outreach is already underway,” Mulroney said. “We need to iron out the details and determine how to put our resources to the best use for the students and staff in these districts.”